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ADDRESS 



OF TUK 



^Imericait Contientioti 



FOR PROMOTING THE 



ABOLITION OF SLAVERY 



IMPROVING THE CONDITION 

OF THE 

AFRICAN RACE, 

ASSEMBLED AT 

PHILADELPHIA, 

IN JANUARY, 1804, 
TO THE 

IPEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. 






PHILADELPHIA : 

PRINTED BY SOLOMON W. CONRAD, 

1804. 



ADDRESS 

OF THE 

AMERICAN CONVENTION 

FOR PROMOTING THE 

ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, ^c. 

TO THE 

PEOPLE 

OF ' 

THE UNITED STATES. 



FELLOW CITIZENS, 

THE American Convention for promoting 
the Abolition of Slavery, and improving the Con- 
dition of the African race, assembled for the pur- 
pose of deliberation upon such matters as relate to 
the design of their institution, believe it their duty 
to address you at this time : not with a view to^ 
descant upon the horrors of slavery, or its incom- 
patibility with sound policy, with justice, with mo- 
rality, and with the spirit and doctrines of Christi- 
anity : for besides that the circumscribed nature 
of such an address necessarily precludes lengthy 
animadversion, these are topics, which have been 
so repeatedly and ably discussed, as to leave little 
room for additional argument or new illustration. — 
The feelings and the judgment have been often ad- 
di-essed with all the strength of reason and the pow- 



crs of eloquence, and although prejudice may blind 
the eyes of some, and avarice close the avenues of 
sensibility in others, we derive consolation from 
the assurance, that the wise and the good, the lib- 
eral and the considerate of all classes of the commu- 
nity, lament the existence of slavery, and consider 
it as a dark stain in the annals of our country. We 
do not e^'en hesitate to believe, that many who hold 
slaves by demise, acknowledge the injustice of the 
tenure ; but perplexed in the contemplation of the 
embarrassment in which they find themselves, they 
are ready to exclaim, " What shall be done with 
them !" We vrould willingly include these among 
the number of our friends, and entreat them to unite 
in the removal of aji evil so justly and almost uni- 
versally deplored. 

A principal object of our concern, is to rouse the 
attention of the public to the continued- --may we 
not say---increasing necessity of exertion. We fear 
many have taken up an idea, that there is less oc- 
casion now than formerly, for active zeal in pro- 
moting the cause of the oppressed African : but 
when it is remembered that there are about nine 
hundred thousand slaves in our country ! that hun- 
dreds of vessels do annually sail from our shores, to 
traffic in the blood of our fellow men ! and that 
the abominable practice of kidnapping is carried on 
to an alarming extent ! surely it will not be 
thought a time for supincness and neglect. Ought 
not rather every faculty of the mind to be awaken- 
ed ? and in a matter wherein the reputation and 
prosperity of these United States arc so deeply in- 
volved, is it possible that any can remain as indif- 
ferent and idle spectators ? 

The gross and violent outrages committed by g. 
horde of kidnappers, call aloud for redress. We 



liave reason to believe, there is a complete chain of 
them along our sea coast, from Georgia to Maine. 
Like the vulture, soaring in apparent indifFerence, 
while watching for his prey, these shameless men, 
disguised in the habiliments of gentlemen, haunt 
public places, and at night seize and carry off the 
victims of their avarice. The Convention are in- 
formed of some of their insidious manoeuvres. 
They generally have vessels moored in small rivers 
and creeks, and after stealing the unprotected, they 
decoy by stratagem and allure by specious offers of 
gain, such free persons of colour as they find sus- 
ceptible of delusion. Others residing near the sea- 
coast, are continually purchasing slaves in the 
middle states, to sell at an advanced price to their 
compeers in infamy. For the victims of this shock- 
ing business, they find a ready market among the 
southern planters. The design of this detail, must 
be obvious : It is to excite the vigilance of every 
friend to humanity and to virtue, in the detection 
and punishm€nt of these monsters in the shape of 
men. 

To complain of injusice, or petition for redress 
of grievances, cannot be mistaken for rebellion a- 
gainst the lavw s of our country. We lament there- 
fore the existence of statutes in the state of North 
CaroUna, prohibiting individuals the privilege of 
doing justice to the unfortunate slave, and to their 
own feelings, by setting him at liberty ; and we 
learn with the deepest regret, that the state of South 
Carolina has recently repealed the law prohibiting 
the importation of slaves fi'om Africa into that 
state. Such appears to be the melancholy fact ; but 
we cannot restrain the involuntary question — Is 
this possible ? Is the measure of iniquity not yet 
filled ? Is there no point at which you will stop ? Or 



was it necessary to add this one step, to complete 
the climax of folly, cruelty, and desperation ? Oh 
legislators ! we beseech you to reflect, before you 
increase the evils which already surround you in 
jgloomy and frightful perspective ! 

Beholdins: wdth anxiety the increase rather than 
diminution of slavery and its dreadful concomitants, 
we earnestly request the zealous co-operation of 
every friend to justice and every lover of his coun- 
try. It is an honourable, a virtuous, and a humane 
cause in Avhich we have embarked. Much good 
has already been effected, but much remains to be 
done ; and, under the divine blessing, may we not 
confidently hope, that in proportion to the sincer- 
ity of our motives, and the temperate, firm, and 
persevering constancy of our exertions, will be our 
success, and peaceful reward. Those who live 
contiguous to the sea-ports, in particular, we wish 
may be stimulated to vigilance, that none of those 
shameful acts of atrocity adverted to, may elude 
deserved punishment ; and our fellow citizens of 
the eastern states are respectfully invited to pay at- 
tention to the clandestine traffic in slaves, carried on 
from some of their ports. Such daring infractions 
of the laM^s of our country require prompt and de- 
cisive measures. 

Many aspersions have been cast upon the advo- 
cates of the freedom of the Blacks, by malicious or 
interested men ; but, conscious of the rectitude of 
our intentions, and the disinterestedness of our en- 
deavours, we hope not to be intimidated by censure 
from performing the part assigned us. We frankly 
own, that it is our wish to promote a general 
emancipation ; and, in doing this, it is our belief 



we essentially promote the true interests of the 
state : Although many inconveniencies may result 
from a general liberation of the People of Colour ; 
yet those which flow from their continuance in sla- 
very, must be infinitely greater, and are every day 
increasing. It is, therefore, in our estimation, 
desirable that this object should be brought about 
with as much speed as a prudent regard to existing 
circumstances,, and the safety of the country, will 
admit : But in all our endeavours for its accom- 
plishment, we hope to move with care and circum- 
spection. We pointedly disavow the most distant 
intention to contravene any existing law of the 
states collectively or separately- --We will not know- 
ingly infringe upon the nominal rights of property, 
although those rights may only be traced to our 
statute-books ; and while we desire to be supported 
in our endeavours to defend the cause of the. op- 
pressed, we hope that discretion and moderation 
will characterize all our proceedings. We feel with 
others the common frailties of humanity, and, there- 
fore cannot expect an exemption from error. The 
best intentions are sometimes inadvertently led a- 
stray ; a lively zeal in a good cause may occasional- 
ly overleap the bounds of discretion : although 
therefore individuals may, in some instances, have 
suffered their zeal to exceed knowledge, yet we re- 
peat, that the line of conduct which we approve, and 
which is consonant with the spirit and design of 
our institutions, is in strict conformity with a due 
submission to existing laws, and to the legal claims 
of our fellow citizens. On this ground we think 
we have a juft claim to the countenance and support 
of all liberal minds- --of all who delight in the real 
prosperity of their country, and in the multiplica- 
tion of human happiness. 



We conclude in the expression of a hope, that 
the Supreme Disposer of events, will prosper our 
labours in this work of justice, and hasten the day, 
when liberty shall be proclaimed to the captive, and 
this land of boasted freedom and independence, be 
relieved from the opprobrium which the sufferings 
©f the oppressed African now cast upon it. 

By order of the Convention, 

MATTHEW FRANKLIN, President. 

ATTEST, 

OTHNIEL ALSOP, Sec'nj, 
Philadelphia, 1ft month, (January) 13th, 1804. 



THE END. 



■^■^"1 



Solomon W. Conrad — Printer. 
No. 22, PcwtCi-PIatter AWey. 



54 W 



















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